Snapshots from the two-night concert of Treasure in Manila—PHOTOS COURTESY OF YG Entertainment
When they first started rehearsing for their first Asian tour “Hello,” the boys of the K-Pop band Treasure couldn’t help but feel nervous. And understandably so. After all, it was the culmination of the 10-man group’s dedication and all the hard work they have been putting into their craft since competing in the 2018 talent survival show “YG Treasure Box.”
“Preparing for our first tour and practicing for it, worry came first,” Choi Hyun-suk, who shares leadership duties with Jihoon, said in a behind-the-scenes interview reel shown at Treasure’s recent two-night Philippine stop at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“I got scared as the dates neared,” lead dancer So Jung-hwan admitted.
Main dancer Doyoung dreaded the possibility of messing up. “What if I make a mistake, or fall short of people’s expectations?” he wondered.
But with apprehension also came excitement. Since debuting in 2020, Treasure—also composed of Park Jeong-woo, Yoon Jae-hyuk, Haruto, Yoshi, Junkyu and Asahi—has made it their goal to hold court at a big venue before a loud and eager audience.
“Performing in front of our dear fans cheering… it’s No. 1 on our bucket list,” Jae-hyuk said. “And it still feels surreal that we’re making the dream come true.”
“I’m not used to hearing and receiving that kind of cheers,” Haruto added. “The concert is in a sense very exciting at the same time.”
Running around the stage, screaming their hearts out and enjoying every single minute with their fans—that’s how Jung-hwan envisioned the “Hello” tour. And that’s exactly how things unfolded during their Manila outing.
Room for spontaneity
Bursting with youthful exuberance, the group opened the night with a sequence of hard-hitting tracks, “Jikjin,” “Boy” and “I Love You.” They cranked up the decibels with the beats of “Going Crazy,” “Come to Me” and “BLT (Bling Like This),” before mellowing the mood down with the feel-good tunes “Slowmotion” and “It’s Okay.”
Their tightly choreographed routines were delivered with precision, the dance breaks with unwavering ferocity. And while they moved as one, there was still room for spontaneity and personal flourishes. Their vocals were just as solid and shone in such songs as “Hold It In” and “Orange.”
But more than the technical elements, it was the boys’ confidence and presence that really buoyed up their performances. Compared to their set at last year’s K-Pop Masterz festival in Manila—their first show outside South Korea—the band was noticeably more self-assured in their showmanship, which showed, not only in their movements, but also in the way they interacted with the crowd.
Treasure in action
They even learned some Tagalog pickup lines that had the fans, or the Treasure Makers (Teume), squealing and giggling in delight. Falling on his knees, Jihoon said, “Ikaw ang kayamanan ko!”
“May license ka ba? Kasi you’re driving me crazy!” Jae-hyuk said.
Junkyu had the crowd roaring in laughter when he said: “Apoy ka ba? Kasi alab you!”
Impressive production
The stage production was just as impressive with hydraulic platforms, moving light contraptions, pyrotechnics and bursts of confetti creating a visual feast and heightening the concert experience. And the group made sure to make the most out of them in their two-and-a-half hour shows that also had them playing the hits, “Clap” and “Darari”; as well as their takes on Big Bang’s “Bang Bang Bang” and iKon’s “Rhythm Ta.”
Toward the end of the concert—mounted by Live Nation Philippines—the boys thanked the fans for their continued love and support. Haruto said he was happy to sing in front of everyone. Asahi wished everyone happiness.
Junkyu vowed to continue making the fans proud. “You can count on that,” he said. Jae-hyuk, meanwhile, gushed over the overwhelming reception throughout the night. “You guys have changed my life today. I won’t ever forget this moment, ever,” he said. INQ